Foot muscle exerciser



Feb. 27, 1934. M. A. NELSON Er A1. 1,948,534

FOOT MUSCLE EXERCISER Filed July 25, 1932 z-sneets-sheet 1 .Nlg

SMQ/MW? Feb. 27, 1934. M. A. NELSON ET AL 1,943,534

FOOT MUSCLE EXERCI SER Fild July 25, 1932 2 sheets-sheet 2 SfttocawldPatented Feb. 27, -1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,948,534 l Foo'rMUSCLE ExERoIsEa Myron A. Nelson and Erwin W. Henry, Cheyenne,

Wyo.

Application' July 25, 1932. serial No. 624,390 12 claims. (c1. 12s-'25)This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for treating andexercising the feet and foot muscles with special reference tostrengthening and correcting the arches.

Many people develop trouble with their feet due to the fact that thebones forming the arches become misplaced with the result that thearches fall and these abnormal arches produce great discomfort andunless corrected in time the condition grows steadily worse untilitbecomes necessary for the patient to resort to steel arch supports andother expedients which produce great discomfort and inconvenience.

It has been found that when defective feet of the type referred to aregiven a systematic exercise, especially in the early stages, that thebones resume their natural position and the muscles and tendons becomestrengthened so as to hold them in normal position, and it is customaryfor chiropodists and other professional people who give treatments forcorrection of such troubles to subject the feet to certain prescribedmanipulations that if persisted in produce the results desired.

The exercise which has been found most useful for the correction of foottroubles is to bend the foot downwardly at the toes and at the same timemove it sidewise so as to produce a compound movement that aiects allthe muscles ,and tendons whereby strengthening results lare obtained.

It .is the object of this invention to produce a mechanism by means ofwhich the feet canv be exercised in a manner to strengthen the musclesand tendons as to move the bones back into normal position.

Another object of this invention is to produce a machine that shall beautomatic in its operation and by means of which either one or both feetcan be exercised simultaneously and in such a way as to produce thecorrective results aimed at.

A s till further object of this invention is to produce a machine of asimple and substantial construction that can be readily operated andwhich will perform the desired operations without hurting or injuringthe patient.

in its preferred form. and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the machine. embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 isa section taken on line 22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3', Fig. 1. and shows a foot inplace on the machine in o the position it occupies during treatment;

Fig. 4 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 4, Fig. 1; l

Fig. 5 is atop view looking onto the movable member to which the foot isattached; m

' Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken'on line 6-6, Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic' side elevation showing the manipulatingelement in three different positions; and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the path of the different pointsof the manipulating element or pedal.

In the drawings numeral 1 represents a base or support that is providedwith four legs 2.L The presence or the absence of the legs isimmaterial, but in the preferred embodiment they have been provided soas to bring the mechanism to the proper height. Secured to the top ofthe Vbase is a mechanism comprising a frame having two downwardlyextending side portions 3 which are connected at their tops by means ofa transverse portion 4. The lower ends of the sides 3 are provided withinwardly extending feet or lugs 5 that are fastened to the base by meansof bolts 6. The upper edge of transverse member 4 is provided withforwardly extending projections 7 that are perforated for the receptionof hinge pins 8, by means of which the movable plate 9 is secured inplace. The relationship between parts 4, '7, 8 and 9 is shown mostclearly in Fig. 4 from which it will be seen that the plate 9 has lugs10 on its rear surface to which the slotted links 11 are pivotallyconnected. Extending forwardly from member 4 are two projecting brackets12 that are perforated for the reception of a bolt 13 which passesthrough the slot 14 in the link 11.- Bolts 13 are provided with clampingnuts 15 and by-loosening these nuts the inclination of member 9 can beadjusted to suit dierent wo conditions and after it has been adjusted itis clamped in adjusted position by the nut 15. Plate 9 is provided withtwo vertical slots 16 spaced apart and extending through these slots arebolts 17 to the outer ends of which are secured sup- 105 portingbrackets 18. These brackets are separated from the plate by two cammembers -19 and 20. Cam member 19 is providedwith a handle 21 and byturning these plates relative to each` other the bracket can be held inany adjusted no direction. Brackets 18 are preferably provided' with alining 22 which may be made of felt or sponge rubber.

Secured to the transverse member 4 directly back of these slots 16 arebolts 23 that have each a cylindrical journal 24 on which is mounted forrotation a pulley 25. Bolts 23 are referred to in the claims as shafts.This pulley is provided with a groove 26 for the reception of a belt andthe flat surface of the pulley is provided with a transverse recess 27in which is slidably located a block 28. The sides of the recess 27 maybe under cut in the manner common with what is .known as T-slots and theblock 28 may be provided with projecting ribs that engage in the slotsthat the block will be held against transverse movement. In theembodiment shown a bolt or screw 29 has been mounted for rotation-in abearing formed in the solid portion of the pulley in such a way that itis in axial alignment with the slot 27. This bolt is provided with acollar 30 which prevents it from moving outwardly while the slotted head3l prevents it from moving in the opposite direction. The blocks 28 havethreaded openings with which the threads on the screws 29 cooperate andby rotating the screw the position of the block can be moved outwardlyand inwardly with respect to the axis of rotation of the pulley. Otherequivalent means for adjusting the position of the crank pin can,

of course, be substituted for the one shown and r described. The outersurface of each block 28 is inclined inwardly towards the center and hasa crank pin 32 that is perpendicular to the inclined surface. It will beseen that when the pulley is turned about its axis of rotation the axisof the crank pin will move in such a way as to form the surface of acone whose apex lies in the axis of pin 24 extended.

The projecting lugs 12 occur in pairs and preferably so located that avertical line extending downwardly from the center of pin 24 will passbetween the two lugs of each pair. The inner or adjacent surfaces oflugs 12 are concave as shown most clearly in Fig. 3 and are adapted toretain a ball 33. This ball has a diametrical opening for the receptionof the lower end of the rod 34. Rods 34 are provided intermediate theirends with a transverse bearing 35 through which the crank pin 32 extendsand are held in place on the crank pin by means of a nut 36 and a washer37. Rods 34 extend above the bearing a distance substantially equal tothe diameter of the pulley so that the upper ends of the rods willproject a short distance above the upper edge of the pulleys, althoughthis is not absolutely necessary, but is believed to be desirable. Theupper ends of rods 34 are flattened as indicated by reference numeral 38and are perforated for the reception of a clamping bolt 39. Secured tothe upper end of each rod 34 is a cylindrical member 40 that is providedadjathe groove 41. A covering 44 is preferably applied to the convexsurface. The periphery of member 42 is provided with headed pins 45 towhich elastics 46 may be secured. The elastics serve to secure the upperend of the foot in place against member 42 in the manner shown mostclearly in Fig. 3. Since rods 34 are connected with the crank pins 32and since the latter are inclined with respect to the axis of rotationand since the lower ends of rods 34 are slidably connected with theballs 33 that in turn are guided in the grooves between lugs 12, the'member 42 to which the foot is attached will be given a peculiar motionwhen the pulley to which it is secured is rotated.

In Figs. 7 and 8 the pulley 25 has been designated by a straightvertical line, while the crank pin 32 has also been designated by astraight line but in three different positions. Since the rods 34 areconnected to the crank pins by elongated bearings as shown in Fig. 6,they will always extend perpendicularly to the axis of the crank pin,regardless of the position in which this is located during therevolution of the pulley. When the crank pin is at the bottom in theposition designated by the letter a in Fig. 7 the upper end of the rodwill occupy the position designated by the letter a' and when the diskis rotated ninety degrees, the crank pin is at the position indicated bythe letter b and the upper end of the rod in the position indicated by bwhile the crank pin is at the uppermost position as indicated by theletter c, the upper end of the rod occupies the position indicated by c.It will be seen from Fig. 7 that the member 42 to which the foot isattached has a forward and backward, as well as an up and down motionand if we refer to Fig. 8, we will see that the upper end of rod 34travels in a closed curve which resembles an ellipse. The severalpositions mentioned in connection with Fig. 7 have been indicated bycorresponding numerals in Fig. 8.l The position of the crank pin hasbeen designated by means of a dotted circle, while the ball 33 thatforms the pivot point for rod 34 has also been shown. There is alsoanother motion which is not apparent from Figs. 7 and 8, but can be seenmore clearly from Fig. 5 and this is a turning motion. It will beapparent that when the rod 34 is in the position designated by b' inFig. 8, it will be turned inwardly in the manner shown in Fig. 5, sothat the foot will be given a rocking motion, as well as an up and downand forward and backward motion.

Particular attention is called to the peculiar compound movement thatthe apparatus gives to member 42 and which this, in turn, imparts to thefoot when it is under treatment. Although the crank pin 32 moves in avertical circle, which in turn raises and lowers the upper end of rod34, this does not necessarily lift the foot from the support becausewhen the member 42 moves downwardly, it also moves away from the supportso that the up and down movement is compensated for by the rocking orbending of the foot.

It will be apparent that when the foot is strapped to the member 42 andthe pulley rotated, the foot will be bent about the instep and alsotwisted in both directions and simultaneously therewith rocked about thesupport and these three movements performed simultaneously will producea strengthening action that will improve the tone of the muscles andtendons and will' also bring the bones back into normal 150 position.The patient by resisting the action of the apparatus can subject themuscles and tendons to as severe strains as desired, because this straindepends on the voluntary resistance offered to the operation of themachine by the patient.

As far as the method and the results are concerned, a single pulley andcrank disk constructed in the manner described and a single support issufficient to carry out the method and obtain the results and it is alsoimmaterial if considered broadly, how the pulley is rotated, and it maybe rotated by Ia crank and thus operated by hand or it may be rotated bypower in the manner to be presently described.

Since it is nearly always desirable to treat both feet of a patient, themachine has been constructed so that there are two duplicate parts, onefor each foot. The two pulleys are driven simultaneously by power.derived from anelectric motor which has been designated by referencenumeral 47. This motor is secured to the upper surface of base 1 and hasits drive shaft provided with a worm 48, which cooperateswith a wormgear 49 carried by shaft 50. Shaft 50 is journaled in a bearing 51 atthe vfront of the machine and a bearing 51 at the rear. Secured to shaft.50 is a pulley 52 and secured to the lower ends of links 53 that arepivoted at their upper ends, as indicated by reference numeral 54, areidlers 55. These idlers are -located in the plane of the grooves inpulleys 25 and 52 and the belt, which' has been designated by referencenumeral 56,V extends around pulley 52 over pulleys 55 and thence aroundthe pulleys 25. A spring 57 connects the two links 53` and producessufficient tension to rotate the parts against normal resistance, but iffor any reason the resistance should be excessive, then the belt will'be permitted to slip due to the stretching of spring 57. This frictiondrive is believed to be of considerable importance in a machine of thistype because if for any unforeseen reason the -patient should exert toomuch resistance, or if some accident should take place, the belt wouldslip before any injury could result.

In the drawings straps 58 have been shown for securing the foot to thesupports or bracket 18, but this is not necessary except occasionallyand they can therefore .be dispensed with, if-.desired.

It will be seen from the above description and from the drawings thatthe apparatus that forms the subject of this invention is specially welladapted for the purpose for which it is intended and that it is soconstructed that when a patients foot is applied to the same in themanner described and shown, it will subject the foot to a compoundmotion that has been found from experience ,to be very beneficial whereweak or fallen arches are to be treated and which is also beneficial forpeople' having normal feet, but which lack the necessary strength, as bythe operation of this machine the required exercise is given to themuscles and tendons to impart to them the strength necessary to keep theparts in normal position and to prevent excessive tiring when walking.

Having described the claimed as new is:

1. A mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, asupport, a shaft carriedby the support, a disk having a crank pincarried by the shaft and rotatable about the axis thereof, the axis ofthe crank pin being inclined with respect to the axis of the shaft, arod invention what is pivotally connected with the crank pin, a guidefor one end of the rod, means for turning the disk, and a foot clampingdevice secured to the other end of the rod.

2. A mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, asupport, a shaft mounted in the support, a crank disk carried by theshaft, a crank pin secured to the disk, the axis of the crank pin beinginclined with respect to the axis of the shaft, a rod pivotallyconnected with the crank pin, a guide Vfor one end of the rod, anattaching means carried by the free end of the rod, and means forturning the disk about the axis of the shaft.

3. A mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, asupport, a shaft mounted in the support, a crank disk carried by theshaft, a crank pin secured to the disk, the axis of the crank pin beinginclined with respect to the axis of the shaft, a rod pivotallyconnected with the crank pin, a guide for one end of the rod, anattaching means carried by the free end of the rod, means for turningthe disk about the axis of the shaft and a bracket carried by thesupport and projecting therefrom.

4. A mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, asupport, a shaft mounted in the support, a crank disk secured to theshaft, a crank pin carried by the disk, means for adjusting the positionof the crank pin so` as to vary its distance from the center of theshaft, the axis of the crank pin being inclined with respect to the axisof the shaft, a rod pivoted to the crank pin at a point intermediate itsends, and a guide for the lower end of the rod.

5. A mechanism of the class describedcomprising, in combination, asupport, two parallel shafts mounted in the support, a crank diskcarried by each shaft, a crank pin carried by each disk, means foradjusting the position of the prising, in combination, a support, ashaft 12'sv mounted in the support, a crank disk secured to one end ofthe shaft, a crank pin carried by the disk, means for adjusting theposition of the crank pin so as to vary its distance from the center ofthe shaft, the axis of the crank being inclined with respect to the axisof the shaft, a rod pivoted to the crank pin at a point intermediate itsends, a guide for the lower end of the rod, an attaching means carriedby the free end of the rod, and a bracket carried by the support andprojecting therefrom.

V7. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, asupport, spaced shafts whose axes are substantially parallel mounted ineach support, a crank disk carried by one end of each shaft, a crank pinsecured to each disk, the axis of the crank pins being inclined withrespect to the axes of the shafts, a rod pivotally connected to eachpin, a guide means for the lower end of each rod, a drive shaft, andfriction means for transmitting motion from the drive shaft to the othertwo shafts, the friction drive means being adjusted'to slipwhen theresistance exceeds a predetermined value.

8. A device of the class described comprising,

in combination, a support provided with two spaced shafts whose axes aresubstantially parallel, a crank disk carried by one end of each shaft, acrank pin secured to each disk, the axes of the crank pins beinginclined with respect to the axes of the shafts, a rod pivotallyconnected to each pin, a guide means for the lower end of each rod, adrive shaft having a pulley at one end, an idler pulley on each sidethereof, a belt extending partly around the pulley on the drive shaftand over the idler pulleys, and a pulley secured to each of the othershafts in position to be en- Agaged by the belt.

9. A machine for exercising the muscles of the feet comprising, asupport, a shaft carried by the support, a crank disk secured to one endof the shaft, a crank pin attached to the disk, means for adjusting theposition of the crank pin radially on the disk so as to change thethrow, the axis of the crank pin being inclined with respect to the axisof the shaft so that it will generate the surface of a cone when theshaft rotates, a rod pivotally connected with the crank pin, the supporthaving a projection provided with a slot that forms a guide for one endof the rod, means at the other end of the rod for attaching a footthereto and a supporting bracket carried by the support in front of thecrank disk.

10. A machine for exercising the muscles of the feet comprising asupport, a shaft carried by the support, a crank disk secured to one endof the shaft, a crank pin attached to the disk, means adjusting theposition of the crank pin radially on the disk so as to change thethrow, the axis of the crank pin being inclined with respect to the axisof the shaft so that it will generate the surface of a cone when theshaft'rota'tes, a rod pivotally connected with the crank pin, thesupport having a projection provided with a slot that forms a. guide forone end of the rod, means at the other end of the rod for attaching afoot thereto, a supporting bracket carried by the support in front ofthe crank disk, and means for adjusting the position of the support.

11. A foot exercising machine comprising, in combination, a support, ashaft carried by the support, a crank disk carried by the shaft androtatable about the axis of the shaft, a crank pin carried by the disk,the axis of the crank pin being inclined with respect to the axis of theshaft, a rod pivoted intermediate its ends to the crank pin, a guide forone end ofthe rod, means at the other end for attaching a foot to therod, and means for turning the crank disk.

12. A device for exercising the foot muscles comprising, in combination,a stationary support, means carried by the support for receiving theheel of a foot to be treated, means for engaging the ball of a foot,means for securing the last mentioned means to the foot, and means forimparting to the ball engaging means a simultaneous motion comprising, avertical component, a horizontal component in the plane of the verticalcomponent, a horizontal component in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the vertical and i the first mentioned horizontalcomponents, and a twisting force, the said ball engaging means travelingin a closed curve.

MYRON A. NELSON. ERWIN W. HENRY.

